Now don’t flaunt while being in an aircraft; your phones could be confiscated

If your facebook and instagram feed is always flooded with the aircraft selfies of your friends where they ‘check in’ to aircraft with a bright smile, there is going to be a big change in the background of those selfies! DGCA has laid some guidelines which are going to fade that travelling smile a bit. According to the new guidelines, DGCA has strictly prohibited the aircraft crew to take any selfies and also has given strict instructions to the passengers not to indulge into any photography. Sad right? But this move is one of the most important safety measures as selfies are one of the biggest reasons of distraction while on board.
Though earlier also the DGCA has put some guidelines on in-flight photography, the fresh guidelines come in the wake of certain cases about possible security risks from clicking cockpit selfies.
“…to ensure safety of aircraft operations, all the air operators are required to ensure provision of AIC 3 of 1997 and Operation Circular 4 of 2011 on the subject are scrupulously followed…crew do not indulge in photography during any phase of flight. Passengers do not indulge into photography while embarking/disembarking from the aircraft,” Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in Air Safety Circular
“Many instances have come to the notice wherein cockpit crew has indulged in photography in the cockpit. In few instances, both pilots were away from the aircraft controls when the photographs were taken,” the DGCA circular said.
Recently, six pilots of IndiGo came under the scanner of the DGCA for allegedly taking pictures in the cockpit with family members. Under the Aircraft Rules, 1937, photography from an aircraft in flight is prohibited unless there is prior permission from authorities concerned.
“In a recent case one of the pilots was engaged in photography during training flight, which eventually resulted into an accident,” the DGCA said.

While this rule may disappoint a few people with ‘if-you-have-it-you-flaunt-it’ ideology, others are happy to now have a happier and safer journey now.

By: Swapnil Mishra